Machimb



Aug. 19, 1924. 1,505,747

R. H. STROTHER COMPUT ING MACHINE Filed Feb. 4, 1924 sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTUR Hi5 ATTORNEY Aug. 19, 1924;

R. H. STROTHER COMPUTING MACHINE R U T N E v W DVJLMW HIE ATTIIIRNEY 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet, 2

13M MW Filed Feb. 4

Patented Aug. 19, 19240 U N I T E D S T if...

ROBERT E. STROTHER, OF MONTCLAIFI, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO REMINGTON AC- COUNTING MACHINE CORPORATION, 01' NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

oonrnrrne MACHINE.

Application filed February 4, 192

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT H. S'rno'rnnn, citizen of the United States, and resident of Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Computing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to computing ma- 1c chines, some of its features being more especially adapted for combined. typewritting and computing machines; and it has for its principal object to provide improved clear signal or clearance proof mechanism for such machines.

To the above end, my invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all of which will be fully set forth herein and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention is capable of considerable variation in its form and details of construction. In order to illustrate it and explain the principle of it, I have shown one instance counting machine, which is a combined typewriting and computing machine.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a right-hand side View of a totalizer of a Remington accounting machine with some associated parts, the figure being partly in section and partly broken away to show the clear signal mechanism, which in this figure is represented in normal position.

Figure 2 is a similar view with many parts omitted, showing most of the clear signal mechanism in the position it occupies when it is being operated and finds the totalizer 'not clear.

Figure 3 is a view similar to part of Figure 2 but showing the clear signal mechanism in the position it assumes when it is operated and it finds the totalizer clear.

Figure 4 is a general side view, conventional or diagrammatic in its nature, of the whole machine on a small scale.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the totalizer with parts in section-and parts broken away to show the clear signal mechanism.

Figure 6 is a similar view of the righthandend of the totalizer but with only the cover plate broken away to show parts in in which it is embodied in a Remington ac- I Serial No. 690,368.

the upper part of the totalizer which were broken or sectioned away in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front view of the totalizer and some of its associated parts, with a portion. of the cover plate broken away to show the mechanism.

'lhe Remington accounting machine is well known to those skilled in the art and it is sufficiently fully described in the patent to John C. Wahl, No. 1,270,471, dated June 25, 1918, to which patent reference is made for the detailed construction of the machine. A portion of the machine is shown in Figure 4 on a small scale where reference numeral 10 designates enerally the framework of a Remington 1&0. 1O typewriter; 11, the platen; 12, a printing key lever; and 13, the linkage connecting said key lever with a type bar 14:. 0f the Wahl computing mchanism, the actuator is conventionally shown at 15, a vertical totalizer at 16 and the totalizer truck at 17. Those key levers 12 which print the ten digits are connected with the actuator 15 by means of links like the link 18 shown. In the present instance the type action shown in the drawing is intended as a conventional representation of a special key 20, and its connections to a special type 21-, which may print a star or other character to indicate that the clear signal mechanism has been operated as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

The Wahl patent above referred to shows both vertical totalizers and also an auxiliary or cross totalizer and my clear signal mechanism may be adapted to either of these totalizers. In the present instance I have 90 shown it applied to a vertical totalizer and to avoid complication in the drawing, no cross totalizer is shown.

The Wahl computing mechanism has a stationary framework, the principal member of which is a casting 22 which is shown only fragmentarily in the drawing but which is mounted on the top plate of the typewriter. In Fig. 1 are shown the three rollers 23 on which the truck 17 runs at the middle of the machine. In Fig. 7 there is a fragmentary showing from the front of the truck 17, the

main computer casting 22, the stationary carriage rail 24 of the typewriter, and the typewriter carriage 25.

Of the Wahl actuating mechanism, I have shown in the drawing only the master dog 26 and master wheel or actuator 27, these being shown in Fig. 1, associated with a fragment 28 of the framework. The construction of the machine is such that when one of the numeral keys of the typewriter is operated, the dog 26 is first rocked counter-clockwise to the position shown in Fig. 2 and while it stands in that position, the master wheel 27 is turned to an extent appropriate to the value of the operated key.

The totalizer is constructed as heretofore and as described in the Wahl patent referred to with exceptions which will be described. lit comprises the usual. side plates 30' and cover plates 31- and various frame bars, shafts and rods all as described in the said patent, and as familiar to those acquainted with the machine. The side plates 30 are dove-tailed on to the truck 17, adjusted to desired position by sliding them along said truck, and are held in adjusted position by the usual latch or detent 32.

The register wheels of the totalizer include the usual carrying wheels 34 strung along a shaft into the end of which is screwed a screw 35, said wheels being engaged and operated one after another by the master wheel 27 as the carriage steps through an adding zone. wheel 34 meshes with and drives an intermediate or idler gear 36, said gears 36 being mounted on a shaft 37. The idlers 36 drive the pinions 38 of the dial wheels 40 which are mounted on a transverse shaft 41 and can be read through a sight opening 42 in the casing plate 31.

The transfer of the tens from one wheel into the next higher is edected by the usual Geneva pinions 43 which are mounted on levers 44 pivoted on transverse frame rods 45 in the usual manner. In Fig. l, theregular levers 44 are largely obscured by a special lever constituting part of my mecha nism but these levers 44 are or the construe tion and arrangement usual in theWahl machine. Each of them has its lower end in position to be engaged by the master dog 26 in such wise that whenever one of the carrying wheels 34 is engaged by the master wheel 27, that lever 44 will be operated by the master dog, whose Geneva pinion con nects the operated register wheel with the wheel of lower order. The levers 44 t '5 normal position by springs similar to the s1 g 46 shown their upper ends, they rest against adjustable stop screws 47 screwed through a transverse frame bar 48.

50 designates the usual so-called safetybar of the Wahl machine, this being in fact a universal bar for all of the levers 44. lt consists o'l an angle bar, bell-cranl r shape in cross section, and having trunnions 5l its ends the angle the be said tr In each denomination the carrying pivoted in the side plates 30. One web of the bar overlies the levers 44 which have certain humps 52 adapted when any lever is operated to rock the bar 50 about its pivot 51. The other web of the angle bar 50 acts as a lock which when the bar is operated by one of the levers 44 swings in over a flat part 53 at the end of each of the other levers, thus positively looking all of the unoperated levers in their normal positions, an operation which will be understood by a reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

In order to accommodate my clear signal mechanism, l have spaced the plates 30 one letter space farther apart, which results as shown in Fig. 7 in spacing the right-hand plate away from the latch lever 32, which in an ordinary Wahl totalizer lies adjacent to said right-hand frame plate. In the space thus provided I have pivoted on the lower rod 45 a special lever 54 which carries no Geneva wheel but which at its upper and lower ends is similar to the levers 44 so that it can be operated by the master dog 26 and will operate the universal bar 50 in exactly the same way as one of the levers 44. This lever is in sub-units position and it is intended to be operated on occasion by the special key 20 shown in Fig. 5, which key will, therefore, both operate this lever 54 and print a special character in the sub-units position. It is the intention that the key 20 be operated after every total taking opera tion of the machine, but not after the writing oi a number to be computed. Said key 20 may be connected into the computing mechanism the same as the regular 0 key, which operates the universal bar (not shown) and the master dog 26, but does not turn the master wheel 27. H preferred, the

key 20 may be the regular 0 key and the special type 21 may be an upper case character on the 0 type bar.

The clearance testing device includes a short tooth 55 on each of the dial pinions 38,

said tooth being so disposed that when a zero shows through the sight opening 42, said tooth will be in register with one of the teeth of a feeler comb 56. This comb is of ordinary construction consisting of a cross bar having a series of thin teeth projecting upward. therefrom and having at its ends trunnions 57 by which it is pivoted in the side plates El of the. 'totalizer. Tn l the ainion 38 dial 40 are represented stand i k tion to show 8. A turning clockwise the extent of two teeth would the zero to the sight opening and the Gib tooth 55 into register with the feeler. will of course be understood that when all the wheels display zeros and therefore all the short teeth 55 are lined up before the er, then said feeler can be rocked towards front of the machine to the position. 1 8; but any one more or wearer 42 and obscure or hide the dials 40 in case the latter are not clear.- This particular sort "of visual indicator has the advantage that it is more likely to be observed by the operator than some other kind. The operator is supposed to glance at the dials after writing the total to see if they are clear and by making the shutter of some bright contrasting color, such as red, it makes a conspicuous change in the appearance of the totalizer at the point at which the operator is supposed to look. Its principal advantage however, is that if the operator fails to look at it immediately after writing the total, he will presently be obliged to do so in order to read the totalizer when making out the next bill.

The shutter 80 consists. of a segmental bar arranged across in front of the dials, bail fashion, having at its ends, arms 81 which are pivoted on the shaft 41 of the dials. As shown in the present instance, the shutter normally stands below the sight opening 42, as shown in Fig. 1, but it can be swung up to cover said opening as shown in Fig. 2. Means are provided to latch or look the shutter in its operated position, said means being releasable by hand so that the shutter will stayin its Fig. 2 position until the operator observes it, when it will have performed its function. He can then release it and proceed to correct his mistake. The latching mechanism shown in the present instance comprises a pin 82 in the righthand arm 81 and a latch lever 83 pivoted on the shaft 37 and having a horizontal arm projecting forward through a slot in the casing plate to serve as a handle to release the latch. Said latch also has an upstanding arm with a shoulder 85, on which the pin 82 normally rests, and which prevents further downward movement of the shutter, and a top shoulder 86 on which the pin rests when the shutter is in its operated position.

The latch drops to its operative position by gravity.

In order to cause the special key 20 to swing the feeler 56 forward in case the register is clear, or to swing the shutter upward in case it is not clear, various connections can be provided between the lever 54 and said feeler and shutter. The preferred means shown consists of a floating lever 87 connected at one point to the feeler and at another point to the shutter and operated by the lever 54, said lever being controlled by a spring 88. The floating lever lies just inside the right-hand frame plate 30, its rear partresting on a pin 90 projecting from the lever 54: so that the rear end of said lever will be elevated when said lever is operated. The feeler 56 has an arm 91 secured thereto, said arm being mounted on the trunnion 57 and also connected with the feeler by a dowel pin 92. This arm projects rearward, and is pivoted to the floating lever 87 at 93. Said'lever 87 extends forward from the pivot 93 and is connected with the shutter arm 81 by what amounts to a pin-and-slot connection. As shown in the present instance, the lever has a. slot 94 into which projects a rounded tooth or lug 95 on the end of the shutter arm 81. The

spring 88 is. connected at its forward end to a pin 96 projecting from the floating lever 87, and the other end of said spring is hooked over a cross bar 97 which is a part of the regular Wahl totalizer. The line of force of this spring is upward and rearward and passes a suitable distance above the pivots 57 and 93.

When the parts stand in the normal position shown in Fig. 1, the rearward complement of the tension of the spring is balanced by a lengthwise pull on the arm 91 and its upward complement (which in the precise arrangement shown is due partly to the upward inclination in the spring but mainly to the moment), is resisted by the tooth 95 acting on the lower wall of the slot 94. The spring therefore tends to hold the shutter 80 in its lowered position. In the present instance the parts are shown so designed that in the normal position, the tension of the spring and the resistance due to tooth 95 and pin 90-tend to hold' the feeler in about the position shown in Fig. 1 where it is barely clear of the ends of the teeth of the pinions 38. To prevent this feeler from moving any furtherrearward a stop pin 98 is provided, said pin being riveted into the right-hand frame plate 30 and lying under the arm 91.

When the lever 54 is operated and the pin 90 moves upward, the lever 87, due to the tension of the spring 88, tends to act as a lever of the second order taking its fulcrum on the tooth 95 of the shutter. If the totalizer is clear and the feeler.56 is free to move forward, the floating lever will behave in that way; that is to say, it will fulcrum on the tooth 95 and raise the pin 93 and swing the feeler to the position shown in Fig. 3. During the whole of this motion, the tension of the spring continues to press upward on tooth 95. When the lever 54 returns to its normal position, all of the parts that the totalizer was clear. If, however, the totalizer was not clear, then the feeler 56 being arrested by a long tooth of a pinion 38, the pin 93 is unable to move upward and it therefore becomes the fulcrum of the lever 87 which now acts as a lever of the first order, its forward end moving downward and swinging the shutter to its upper obscuring position shown in Fig. 2 where it will be caught and held by the latch 83. In this operation, the tension of the spring is exerted to press the feeler against the pinions. The spring is stretched to some extent when the parts move to the Fig. 3 position, and to a greater extent when they move to the Fig. 2 position.

When the lever 54 returns from the Fig. 2 position to normal position, the other parts shown in Fig. 2 will remain in the operated positions there shown. The forward end of the lever 87 is forced to remain depressed because it is interlocked with the shutter, which latter is locked in its operated position. That being so. both the weight of the lever87 and the tension of the spring 88 tend to swing the rear end of said lever downward, but this cannot be done on account of the pin 93 which itself is unable to move downward on account of the stop pin 98.- When the operator releases latch 83, the spring 88 will restore the parts to their Fig. 1 positions.

I have provided a second signal device, this latter consisting of means for locking up the totalizer 16 entirely when the parts are in the Fig. 2 position, so that said totalizer cannot be operated. To this end the lever 54 is caused to operate the universal or so-called safety bar 50, the same as the ordinary levers 44, and the floating lever 87 is,

provided with a locking arm 100 adapted to lock said safety bar in its operated position as shown in Fig. 2 when the totalizer is not clear. Said safety bar then locks all of the levers 44 against operation. As the lVahl mechanism is so constructed that on the down-stroke of a key the master dog 26 is operated before the master wheel 27, the

locking of these levers 44 prevents the depression of a numeral key and any turning of a register wheel when the totalizer is over the master wheel.

The locking arm 100 is so shaped that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2 the upper end of said arm lies under the rear web of the bar 50 so that said bar cannot return to its normal posit-ion. This arm 100 is made in the present instance as an upward and forward prolongationof the rear end of the lever, this precise shape being given it to avoid interference with the cross bar 97 and other parts of the \Vahl totalizer and also to avoid interference with the spring 88.

When the totalizer is clear, and the clearance proof mechanism is operated, the locking arm 100 moves up to the rear of the bar 50 as shown in Fig. 3 and does not lock said bar. It will be perceived that the floating lever 87 has two different motions in somewhat different directions. izer is clear, the motion of this lever is almost, though not exactly, a swinging motion about the pivot 57 as a center, whereas, when the totalizer is not clear, its motion is about the pin 93 as a center, this being further toward the rear and more nearly directly under the upper end of the arm 100. The result is that when the lever swings about 57 as a center, the upper end of the arm 100 has a motion more upward and not so much forward as when the lever swings about 93 as a center. This arm is so designed as to make this difference result in the upper end of the arm moving free of the bar 50 in the one instance, and moving in under said bar in the other instance.

The whole effect of this look is that when a total has been incorrectly copied and the key 20 operated in sub-units position to print the special character, the totalizer will be locked against further operation until the operator purposely releases it by touching the latch 83.

In order that the lock just described may not prevent the return to normal position of the lever 54 and therefore of the master dog 26, I prefer to cut out the right-hand end of the depending web of the bar 50 as shown at 101.

It should be remarked that floating levers capable of being operated by a lever having the position of the lever 54 and capable of giving the described alternative motions to the feeler 56 and shutter 80, and capable also of locking the bar 50 in case the totalizer is not clear can be made in several When the totalforms of which the one illustrated is merely an instance. 7

It will readily be perceived that either one of the two signal devices can be used without the other. I prefer, however, to use both signals. The shutter has the advantage that it is observable immediately and no doubt in the vast majority of instances would be observed immediately; and it would necessarily be observed ultimately because the operator must presently read the totalizer. He is not however, positively compelled to read the totalizer until he comes to copy the next total and that would be after the next succeeding bill had been written all except the total. This total will be incorrect because the totalizer was not clear at the beginning of the computation and he would therefore have spoiled a computation before he had discovered the error. The lock has the advantage that he cannot begin a. new computation until the error is corrected. Either of these two things by itself would answer the purpose, but it is preferable to use both.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement without departing from my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clearance proof mechanism including a signal to indicate not clear, a feeler, a floating lever, and means for operating and controlling said lever, said lever acting to operate said feeler if the register is clear but if the register is not clear taking a fulcrum on said feeler and thereby operating said signal.

2. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clearance proof mechanism including a visual indicator, a feeler, a spring, a floating lever, and means for operating said lever, said lever acting to operate said feeler if the register is clear but if the register is not clear taking a fulcrum on said feeler and thereby operating said indicator.

3. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clear signal mechanism including a shutter for the register dials, a feeler, a spring, a floating lever, and means for operating said lever, sald lever being capable of taking a fulcrum on either said shutter or said feeler and the tension of said spring being so directed that the feeler will be operated b the lever if the register is clear but the s utter will be operated if the feeler is obstructed, the register being not clear.

4. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clear signal mechanism including a signal, a feeler, a floating lever capable of operating said feeler, a spring acting on said lever, andmeans for operating said lever, the construction and arrangements of the parts being such that when said lever is operated it tends to operate said feeler, but if the feeler is obstructed, the lever will move in another direction and operate said signal.

5. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clear signal mechanism including a signal device, a feeler, a floating lever capable of operating said feeler, a spring acting on said floating lever, a key, and means whereby said key may operate said lever, said lever when operated tending to operate said feeler but if said feeler is obstructed, said lever operating said signal device.

6. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with printing mechanism and registering mechanism, of clearance proof mechanism including a shutter for said registering mechanism, a key and connections to move said shutter to obscuring position in case the register is not clear, and a special type operated by said key.

7. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clearance proof mechanism including a shutter for the register, means for operating said shutter, said means acting when operated to move the shutter to obscuring position or not depending on the state of the register, and a hand-releasable detent for retaining said shutter in such position.

8. In a combined typewriting and computing machine, the combination with the printing and registering mechanisms, of clearance proof mechanism including a shutter for the register, a special key, means operated by said key and acting to move said shutter to obscuring position in case the register is not clear, a detent for retaining said shutter in such position, and a special type operated by said key.

9. The combination with computing mechanism including a totalizer and a master actuator for operating the wheels of said totalizer one at a time, said totalizer having therein a series of denominational devices movable one at a time preliminary to the operation of one of the register wheels, and a universal bar for said denominational devices, said universal bar when operated by one of said devices acting to lock the remainder of said devices; of clear signal mechanism including means for operating said universal bar and holding it in its looking position or not depending on the state,

of the totalizer.

10. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism including a .master actuator, a series of denominational register wheels, and a series of denominational devices, one operated preliminary to the operation of each of said wheels, of clearance proof mechanism including means controlled by the state of said wheels for locking said denominational devices.

11. In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism including a master actuator, a series of denominational register wheels, and a, series of denominational devices, one operated preliminary to the operation of each of said wheels, of clearance proof mechanism including means controlled by the state of said wheels for locking said denominational devices, and a lever in said totalizer for operating said means, said lever operated by means outside of the totalizer and returning to normal position after each actuation thereof.

12, In a computing machine, the combination with computing mechanism including a master actuator, a series of register wheels, a series of denominational devices, one operated preliminary to the operation of each of said wheels, and a universal bar for said denominational devices, of clearance proof mechanism including means controlled by the state of said register wheels for locking said universal bar.

13. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clear signal mechanism including, a feeler, a floating lever capable of operating said feeler, and means for operating said floating lever, said lever when operated having one motion to operate said feeler in case the latter is free to be operated, and another motion in case the feeler is obstructed, and said lever having a part thereof adapted to act as a lock for an essential part of the machine when said lever has imparted thereto the second one of the two motions mentioned.

14. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, denominational levers 44, a universal bar for said levers, and a master dog 26 for operating said levers, of clearance proof mechanism including a device 56 for testing the state of the register, a lock 100 for said universal bar, a floating lever 87, a spring 88, and an operating lever 54.

15. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, denominational levers 44, a universal bar 50 for said levers, and a master dog 26 for operating said levers, of clearance proof mechanism including a device 56 for testing the state of the register, a lock 100 for said universal bar, a floating lever 87, a spring 88, an operating lever 54, and releasable means for retaining said lock in looking position.

16. In a computing machine, the combination with a register including numeral dials, and means for operating said register, of clearance proof mechanism including a shutter for obscuring said dials and a lock to lock said register against operation, and means controlled by the state of said register to operate said shutter and lock in the event that the register is not clear.

17. In a computing machine, the combination with registering mechanism, of clearance proof mechanism including a shutter for obscuring the register and a lock to lock said register against further operation, means for testing the state of the re ister; and operating means connected to sai shutter, lock and testing means and acting when operated to set said shutter and lock or not depending on the state of the register.

18. In a computing machine, the combination with actuating mechanism and a totalizer including register wheels and denominational devices operated by said actuating mechanism, and a universal bar for said denominational devices; of clearance proof mechanism including a feeler, a shutter, a floating lever connected to said feeler and shutter, and means in the totalizer and operated by said actuating devices for op erating said floating lever; the construct-ion and arrangement being such that if the register being clear the feeler is free to move, said floating lever will have one motion, and if the register being not clear said feeler is not free to move, said float.- ing lever will have another motion which will operate said shutter; and said floating lever having a part thereof adapted to act as a lock for said universal bar when the lever has imparted to it the second motion mentioned.

19. In a computing machine, the combination with a totalizer and an actuator having relative traveling movement from one denominational position to another, said totalizer including a series of denominational devices; and means in said totalizer operable by said actuating devices in subunits position for testing the state of said totalizer and locking said denominational devices against operation in case the totalizer is not clear.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 29th day of Januar A. D. 1924.

- R BERT H. STRO'IHER.

Witnesses CHARLES, E. SMITH, E. M. l/Vnrns. 

